In the 12-year period of 2005 through 2016, canines killed 392 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 65% (254) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Friday, August 8, 2008

Boy Attacked Standing at Bus Stop
Oklahoma City, OK - On March 4th, 2005, a pit bull jumped a fence and attacked a boy while he waited for the school bus. Tim Cline, 13-years old, suffered lacerations on his left leg and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Neighbor Carolyn Luevano said she saw the attack and did what she could to help. "[The dog] had the little boy down, just chewing his leg off," Luevano said.

Luevano said she feared for the boy's life. "[The dog's] not even tied up, so you could be attacked any time," she said. Once the dog hopped the fence, it clamped onto Cline's leg and wouldn't let go. Luevano said she kicked the animal until it finally gave up. "The dog needs to be shot," she said. "If they don't come out here and do something, I will drop him in front of God and everybody."

After animal control officers arrived, they loaded the dog into a city vehicle with help from its owners. The victim's father, Terry Cline, said he was livid as he watched his son being strapped into a stretcher. "If that dog ain't dead after I come back -- after the way he treated my son -- I'll climb the fence and kill it," Terry Cline said. "And if the owner comes out, I'll hurt him, too."

DogsBite.org did not find any information regarding how Tim healed or if the dog owner was charged with a crime.